First Day on Earth !

I remember it like yesterday, a nurse curiously yelled "time of birth?" and Dr.Sonek replied "9:54 am" (I don't think he knew the exact seconds; don't look at my blog like that ... of course it matters). My mother holding my vernix caseosa covered body with zeal: literally (figuratively), her happy tears almost drowned me. Who needs a first bath when you have an emotional mother. While she sweated profusely from her eyeballs, I was screaming to the top of my lungs: it was too early and everything was different from the uterus. 

Listen to unheard audio of me crying as a Newborn (or not) 

Just as I was getting comfortable in the embryonic fluid, my 9-month tenure was up, and on May 22, 2000, I was born Jamie Eltron Gilmore Jr. Each day I wake up thankful to be alive, yet without 5/22/2000 I wouldn't be able to be grateful for this very life. Although my mom told me check-out was on May 23rd, I am filled with distinct honor that my first and last time early was my birth.

When assigned this blog, I was unsatisfied with the dates I initially suggested. None seemed as memorable despite me being more conscious then rather than on the day I was born. As you can tell, I chose. Officially no date can top the start of it all. Unlike my high school graduation, college move-in, or my first pageant: May 22nd is more than an Aha moment when I check the calendar. It's an anticipated day every year, not only for me but for both of my parents as they experienced the birth of their first child. 

May 22, 2004 my first birthday party on a Saturday (always a cool day to have a birthday on ... no school or work)

 For my mother, the night started frightening: her water broke, and with her being a first-time mom to a gigantic headed boy, her nerves were all over the place. May 22nd was monumental for my dad as he offered me his unconditional love and his full name with a bonus suffix.

A year later my mom was six months pregnant with my brother J'von and the anniversary of the day that frightened her motivated her to finish her third trimester in high spirits. 3 years later my cousin Latoya was five months pregnant (my now favorite cousin Faith) and my mom inspired her with the detailed stories from my delivery, assuring her everything would be perfectly fine.

It's going on 21 years this year and this day is still very important to me as it initiated my first day on

earth which allowed me to start this journey called life. In a world of 7 Billion, I was someone's first. On day one I was already considered the eldest of my siblings. The other 365 days (2000 was a leap year) are nice however May 22nd, 2000, is a big day remembered, indefinitely.

A montage of myself as I celebrated two decades of life. (A rare birthday where I took no pictures) 

BYE 2020, HELLO 2021

 Pandemic, Panoramic, Ponder ... whatever you want to call it! We were stuck in the house for ten months (well at least I was) and  the death toll is constantly rising but I am still alive so I can't complain. However, I'm so deeply displeased with the negative effect of the coronavirus, I can't find anything positive about it. Most people are thankful they were able to spend time with their family, work from home, or have more time to work on their goals but all those reasons hit different for homes that were broken due to death, jobs that were lost, and inspiration that was drowned by all the wrong in the world.

The racial injustice served as red icing on our chocolate cake ... After being forced into quarantine and to only hear the disproportionate numbers of Black Americans murdered by police rise (and covid 19), millions of MASKED protesters needed to fight for all of the black lives that were lost and not just the three (1) Ahmad Arbery (2) George Floyd (3) Breonna Taylor the media highlighted. Way before the hashtag BLACK LIVES MATTERED, maybe not to everyone but for Black Americans life is different and we know and live it 365 days a year (with an additional dreadful day in 2020) but it's a matter of getting others to wake up and hear us. I don't always like to fight but when I do you better believe it's for justice.  

My Cousin Aiden Stinson on Juneteenth 2020

I always knew the internet and robots would take over but never in this way and not this early. My overindulgence with social media has tripled during quarantine (my iPhone does not ding when it displays my screen time it screams in agony). The World Wide Web began to feel more connected than the www in the URL: with the help of tik tok billion's around the globe began sharing their culture and comical genius as if we were all in a high school lunchroom on diversity day.

My average screen time for the last week of 2020.

We Did it America, the Election is finally over! After an exhausting two years, we can finally be done with the harassment of everyone telling us to VOTE. But who knew the election everyone waited for would continue for so long even after the results announcement (and that itself took an additional four days to announce that). Nevertheless, 2020 showed us there is strength in numbers (with the implementation of social distancing). No systematic oppression or panoramic (PANDEMIC if you want to be technical) can stop sweet democracy. 

My Aunt Marie Anderson (57) voting for the first time in her life

2020 is over and I'm over discussing the tragic year which left many down and out. I learned to tackle the year one day; if we keep discussing 2020 and all the bad it caused the good in 2021 won't get the recognition it deserves. 

New Year New Me

When in doubt, manifest it out! 2021 is the year of redemption after everything the world faced in year you know know what. Don't overwhelm yourself by reflecting on the past year and trying to figure out a way to overcome the chaos, if you're reading this in 2021 you already overcame it you just have to take it one step at a time. Last year can't stop my positivity or flow for this year because I'm mentally prepared for any and everything, Including another quarantine, Classified Alien information, and a super strand of Covid-19. 

I'm optimistic before anything and you should be too here's why:

(1) In 2000 George Bush was elected president which upset the general population (2) September 11, 2001, the most gruesome attack on American soil killed nearly 3,000 citizens (3) In 2004 President Bush was reelected which upset the general population again (4) In 2015 the Emmanuel 9 Massacre was yet another mass shooting occurred. 

The one thing all these events have in common was that time waited for no one to recuperate, many people rolled with the punches and the days went on which forced many to move on as well. It is not the tragedy itself that defines a person or group it's the way they recover and learn from the situation. 

Move over, Joe you're blocking Ma'dam Vice President Kamala Harris shot! Since 2016 I've been waiting for a new president, not to dismiss Donald Trump and all his accomplishments (cues jeopardy music) but to experiment with a new administration to see for myself -as a first-time voter and young adult in the free world- if change can happen with new (and old) faces.

I am hopeful that the Biden-Harris administration completes the long list of promises in their 4-year term. However, we still don't have the promised wall; I understand the farfetched ideas including free college and the cancellation of student loans won't happen overnight but I would like to see legislation be passed to create the foundation for the next administration to pick up on.

2021 is here and I am in it for the long run with goals that reflect the person I want to become! I want to open my mind to new ideas and philosophies to diversify my thoughts. Another goal of mine is to begin creating the plots for my scripted series that is set to premiere in 2025. Lastly, I would like to advocate for people with ADHD, LGBTQ+, and African American communities.  

Three Chakra Balancing incense Yellow (Solar Plexus) Purple (Crown) and Green (Heart) on New Years Eve

That's all for now on 2021, we shall meet one another back at Club Confabulate on December 31st to reflect on the year and reset for 2022! I wish everyone a prosperous 2021 and remember every day is a new year you don't have to wait to January to enact change, start today and stick to it.